I wanted to leave a YEAR ago! Arsenal's Danny Welbeck lifts the lid on his Man Utd exit

FRUSTRATED: Danny Welbeck has revealed he wanted to leave Manchester United a year ago [GETTY]

Welbeck, 23, joined the Gunners in August after new Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal decided he was surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.

Under former United boss David Moyes the Gunners star spent the majority of his time being played out of position, and as a consequence his confidence and good form faded.

In a recent interview with the Manchester Evening News, Welbeck spoke abut his frustration at being played out of position during his last season with United, and revealed he began contemplating his future with the Red Devils over a year ago.

“Over the past year or so, I started to think about what’s best for me”

Danny Welbeck

He said: “When you’ve been somewhere for so long and then you’re going to start a new chapter in your career, you’ve got to think about it a lot.

"Over the past year or so, I started to think about what’s best for me.

“At the time I was playing on the left wing a lot and in a 4–4-2, which is very difficult for me because I can’t make an impact on the game.

I can play it to the best of my ability but that’s not best for the team, and I could make a bigger impact playing in my preferred position.

“You start to have thoughts but at that time you’re still going to training and I was still giving 100 per cent and giving my all in every single game – that’s just me, I’m not going to change that. But you do start to think about what’s best for you.”